Core Cannabis Course: Delta-9 THC

Welcome to homework assignment CCC 1.15 of the Core Cannabis Course from Higher Learning LV. This assignment teaches students about the cannabinoid delta-9 THC, the most infamous cannabinoid due to its role as the most psychoactive molecular component produced by the cannabis plant.

Delta-9 THC volume is also the measure by which governments define the difference between marijuana and hemp—an important dividing line based on the extremely different legal status and regulatory oversight of the two versions of the cannabis botanical species. Of greatest merit, however, is the fact that delta-9 THC, despite its controversial and often undesired psychoactivity, has demonstrated an impressive range of potential medicinal applications.

When you complete this assignment, simply click the link at the bottom of the article to return to the master page for this course.

Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the result of THCA, the acidic precursor for this psychoactive cannabinoid. It is considered a major cannabinoid because it typically dominates other cannabinoids, including number two cannabidiol (CBD). This characteristic depends on specific cultivar, however. Some modern hemp and cannabis breeders are focusing on strains that are balanced between CBD and THC and others that are dominated by CBD.

Delta-9 THC molecule

Modern commercial and underground cultivars of loose-leaf cannabis flower typically contain 12-30+ percent delta-9 THC. Most examples of the cannabis plant have been bred and cultivated with the intent of maximizing the production of one molecule: Delta-9 THC.

"The cannabis industry has attracted criticism for its myopic focus on this single cannabinoid and the obsessive pursuit of increasingly large percentages of it in commercial products."

The cannabis industry has attracted criticism for its myopic focus on this single cannabinoid and the obsessive pursuit of increasingly large THC percentages in commercial products. Many suggest that companies should place more emphasis on minor cannabinoids such as THCV, CBN, and CBC while also including aromatic terpenes in their formulation and marketing strategies.

In 1963 through 1965, a group of Israeli scientists led by Raphael Mechoulam isolated and synthesized CBD and THC, renewing international academic interest in the compounds produced by the hemp plant. The pioneering work of Mechoulam and his team led to the discoveries of more than 100 phytocannabinoids, a scientific exploration that continues to this day.

Biosynthetic pathway of delta-9 THC

Like many cannabinoids, recent research has shown that the potential medicinal benefits of delta-9 THC are numerous and include therapeutic applications for patients with cancer, anxiety, depression, Crohn's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, chronic pain, arthritis, and sleep disorders—among others. As the most dominant cannabinoids produced by modern cannabis, THC and CBD are also the most researched.

A 2023 study entitled "Phytocannabinoids in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Treatment: Current Knowledge and Future Insights" that was published in the journal Anticancer Research explored the ability of cannabinoids such as CBD and delta-9 THC to effectively treat breast cancer.

"Phytocannabinoids [like THC] should be considered as potential agents for inhibiting triple negative breast cancer progression."

The research reported that triple negative breast cancer "represents an aggressive subtype of breast cancer" that features a high rate of recurrence. The study noted that conventional therapies, including chemotherapy, feature negative side effects and a low survival rate for this particular type of breast cancer. It is for this reason that a number of scientific investigations have considered cannabis for its treatment.

The study reported that cannabis has been widely tested for potential therapeutic value in the treatment of several diseases and conditions, including pain, sleep disorders, emesis, depression, and cancer.

The researchers noted that previous pre-clinical studies about the potential benefits of THC for triple negative breast cancer provided evidence that both CBD and delta-9 THC "possess antitumor and anti-inflammatory activities on triple negative breast cancer."

However, the study reported that some preclinical studies (not involving humans) showed that sometimes phytocannabinoids like THC can act as "pro-tumoral agents." It explained that this dual behavior depends upon the concentration, or dose, of the cannabinoids. The research observed that lower concentrations of cannabinoids promote cancer cell proliferation, while higher concentrations inhibit cancer cell growth and enhance cancer death.

"Overall, apart from the need for other studies to dissect the molecular pathways underlying the antitumor synthetic cannabinoids' properties, phytocannabinoids [like THC] should be considered as potential agents for inhibiting triple negative breast cancer progression," concluded the study's authors.

View the original study.

A 2022 study entitled "Pilot Clinical and Pharmacokinetic Study of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)/Cannabidiol (CBD) Nanoparticle Oro-buccal Spray in Patients with Advanced Cancer Experiencing Uncontrolled Pain" that was published in the journal PLOS ONE had the goal of assessing the "safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and exploratory analgesic effect of a novel water-soluble oro-buccal nanoparticle spray of a cannabis-based medicine in patients with advanced incurable malignancy with unrelieved pain from opioid analgesic."

Chronic pain, both from cancer and non-cancerous conditions, is a "common condition cited by patients for the medical use of cannabis."

The research reported that chronic pain, both from cancer and non-cancerous conditions, is a "common condition cited by patients for the medical use of cannabis." It noted that a systematic review and analysis of controlled research trials "suggests that cannabis-based-medicines could be effective for chronic pain treatment and primarily for neuropathic pain."

The study reported that most prior scientific investigations that have explored the use of cannabis as an analgesic (pain reducer) have focused on neuropathic pain. It cited one study that revealed that a low-dose delta-9 THC (1.3 percent) vapor treatment "relieved central or peripheral neuropathic pain that was resistant to standard treatments compared to placebo."

A cancer cell

The researchers found the administration of low-dose vaporized delta-9 THC to be safe and well tolerated during short-term exposure with patients with advanced incurable cancers featuring controlled pain and intractable pain (despite opioid treatment). The study revealed that patient participants who consumed vaporized delta-9 THC improved in terms of multiple clinical characteristics, including "emotional functioning, fatigue, dyspnea, insomnia, and appetite loss." The scientists reported that this was especially true for those patients who experienced improved pain management with cannabis.

A group with metastatic breast and prostate cancers experienced "significant improvement in average adjusted pain scores."

The study reported that patients required a dose of 6.4 mg/day of vaporized delta-9 THC to be effective and that the most commonly reported adverse events among the patients with advanced cancers were "drowsiness, fogginess, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting."

The research report concluded that it found only "an overall small improvement" in the pain scores of the participants. However, it noted one subgroup of participants, a group with metastatic breast cancer and prostate cancers that experienced "significant improvement in average adjusted pain scores" beyond what was delivered by standard analgesics.

The study's authors acknowledged that their data was only preliminary and that the clinical application of cannabis-based medicine for any type of cancer requires further research.

View the original study.

A 2022 study entitled "Low-dose Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol as Beneficial Treatment for Aged APP/PS1 Mice" that was published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences explored the effect of low-dose THC treatment on spatial learning and memory and the associated mechanisms in aged mice as a test of the potential efficacy of delta-9 THC for Alzheimer's disease (AD).

The scientists surmised that low-dose THC is "a safe and effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease."

The research reported that AD is the most common neurodegenerative disorder and that it affects more than five million Americans. Each year, the disease is estimated to result in medical costs in excess of $300 billion. The study explained that AD is characterized by amyloid plaques that build up in the brain and begin to interrupt the normal activity of neurons. This has a negative impact upon memory and cognitive processing, including emotional tone and behavior.

The study's authors concluded that low-dose delta-9 THC improved the spatial learning of aged mice in a model of human Alzheimer's disease and that it did so without producing psychotropic or immunomodulatory effects. They surmised that low-dose THC is "a safe and effective treatment for AD."

View the original study.

A 2022 study entitled "Cannabis Containing Equivalent Concentrations of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD) Induces Less State Anxiety than THC-dominant Cannabis" investigated the relationship between CBD and THC and how the former might buffer the anxiety and paranoia that sometimes accompanies the latter, particularly in potent doses and when involving novice consumers with relatively low tolerances (this is especially true with edible cannabis).

The design of this study was that of a "placebo-controlled, randomised, within-subjects study including 26 healthy recreational cannabis users." It tested the effects of vaporized "THC-dominant cannabis (13.75 mg THC), CBD-dominant cannabis (13.75 mg CBD), THC/CBD-equivalent cannabis (13.75 mg THC/13.75 mg CBD), and placebo cannabis on anxiety."

When participant anxiety was low, CBD "completely counteracted THC-induced anxiety."

The research found that anxiety levels were significantly lower after a combination of CBD and THC than after THC alone. When participant anxiety was low, CBD "completely counteracted THC-induced anxiety." However, the study noted that when anxiety was high, CBD did not counteract THC-induced anxiety.

The study's authors concluded that "both THC and THC/CBD significantly increased self-rated anxiety compared to placebo," but that increases in anxiety among the test subjects were significantly lower with a CBD/THC mix rather than THC alone.

View the original study.

A 2018 study entitled "Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol for the Treatment of a Child with Tourette Syndrome: Case Report" investigated whether treatment-resistant cases of Tourette syndrome (TS), the childhood-onset neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by motor and vocal tics, might gain benefit from the application of delta-9 THC.

The researchers presented the case of a seven-year-old boy with severe TS, along with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The child experienced an episode of increased tics and depression that included suicidal ideation and separation anxiety resulting from social isolation. "As treatment with various antipsychotics and Habit Reversal Training turned out to be unsuccessful, we implemented therapy with oral delta-9-THC as oil-based drops," reported the study's authors.

"It is suggested that THC is effective and safe in the treatment of tics, depression, and ADHD in children with severe and otherwise treatment-resistant Tourette syndrome."

Their regimen involved a starting dose of only 0.7 mg of delta-9 THC once per day, which was gradually increased to a maximum dose of 29.4 mg of THC per day. The scientists observed that this resulted in "a significant improvement of both tics and behavioral symptoms." They reported that follow-up visits with the test subject over a four-month period "demonstrated a sustained treatment effect without any adverse events."

"From this single case report, it is suggested that THC is effective and safe in the treatment of tics, depression, and ADHD in children with severe and otherwise treatment-resistant TS," concluded the study's authors.

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A 1997 study entitled "Medicinal Applications of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and Marijuana" explored the medical use of delta-9 THC for "nausea associated with cancer chemotherapy, glaucoma, stimulation of appetite, and spinal cord spasticity." The study declared that, even a quarter century ago, the scientific evidence at the time warranted the "selective use of pure THC preparations" to treat conditions such as nausea from cancer chemotherapy and the concurrent stimulation of appetite.

The research reported that the most promising use of THC is to "counteract the nausea associated with cancer chemotherapy and to stimulate appetite."

View the original study.

The most common way to consume delta-9 THC is the smoking or vaporization of loose-leaf cannabis flower. Increasingly popular are concentrate products intended for dabbing, including wax, shatter, crumble, and other forms of marijuana concentrate that typically are very potent, containing 45-95 percent delta-9 THC.

"However, delta-9 THC, like other cannabinoids, can also be ingested (eaten) via infused foods, including beverages and confections."

However, delta-9 THC, like other cannabinoids, can also be ingested (eaten) via infused foods, including beverages and confections. This cannabinoid is readily available as tinctures, gummies, capsules, and oils.

While standard oil-based edibles feature an onset period of about two hours (unacceptable for pain patients and those treating severe anxiety), nanoemulsified edibles take effect in only 10-20 minutes and feature greater bioavailability, making them more effective and a better value.